The following will be published in the July 3 issue of The Lancet:

Disastrous disaster response Haitian rebuilding efforts after the January earthquake are being hampered by disorganisation and lax leadership, a US Senate report declared last week. The report came as the US Congress was set to debate investment of US$2 billion in Haitian relief. It also criticised the Haitian Government for not effectively convincing citizens that it was in control of the situation.

Allergic reaction Allergy sufferers in the UK are not receiving the specialist care that they require, according to a report by the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Pathologists. This follow-up report suggests that services have not improved in the past 3 years and are under increasing pressure. One suggestion to alleviate the shortage of specialist allergy doctors has been to retrain surplus anaesthetists.

Lab network The World Bank has approved nearly US$64 million to create a network of 25 public health laboratories across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda. According to Obiageli Ezekwesili, World Bank Vice President for Africa, this regional integration is essential for economic growth and attainment of the Millen­nium Development Goals.

FDA criticism A US Department of Health and Human Services report released last week found that, in 2008, the Food and Drug Administration inspected only 0·7% of non-US clinical trial sites, despite the fact that 80% of drugs approved were tested via such trials. Industry watchdogs worry that this lack of regulatory oversight could result in cost efficiency being valued above patients’ safety.

Syphilis control In China, the Ministry of Health has issued a 10-year working plan to curb the spread of syphilis over the next 5 years and eliminate congenital syphilis within 10 years. Anti-syphilis drugs are to be covered by medical insurance, and community-based methadone maintenance centres and HIV clinics will provide free counselling and testing for syphilis.

Stem-cell report The European Science Foundation issued a report last week on the ethical and legal implications of stem-cell research in the specialty of regenerative medicine. The report argues for equal research into both embryonic and pluripotent stem cells, and calls for public funding for stem-cell research at both the national and European levels.

African genetics The US National Institutes of Health and the Wellcome Trust have announced a 5-year effort to identify genetic variants linked to a wide range of diseases in Africa. The series of population-based studies, to be done by African researchers, will use genetic, clinical, and epidemiological screening techniques to search for hereditary and non-hereditary risks of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Bioethics commission July 8–9 will see the first convention of US President Obama’s new Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues. Amy Gutmann, a political scientist and ethical policy academic, will chair the 13-member committee. Made up of members of the public, government officials, and medical and legal experts, the panel will provide the President with guidance on controversial scientific topics.

Discriminatory treatment A survey by intellectual disability charity Mencap suggests that the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is ill-equipped to care for patients with learning difficulties. The poll of more than 1000 health-care professionals, part of Mencap’s Getting it right campaign, revealed that 39% of doctors believed that people with a learning disability are discriminated against in the NHS.

Shifting drug use The UN Office on Drugs and Crime released its World Drug Report 2010 last week, highlighting a shift towards new drugs and new markets. The world’s supply of opiates and cocaine is decreasing, but there is growing misuse of amphetamine-type stimulants and prescription drugs. Also, drug use in developed countries has stabilised but is increasing in developing countries.

Pharma funds out The University of Michigan has become the first US medical school to stop receiving money from drug and medical device makers to pay for continuing medical education coursework. The practice of accepting commercial financing for postgraduate medical education has come under scrutiny owing to the potential bias of promoting products over patients’ interests.

Anti-rape condom South African doctor Sonnet Ehlers has developed a female condom with sharp “teeth” on the inside in an effort to deter rapists. The device’s barbs attach to the man’s penis and can only be removed by a doctor. Ehlers plans to distribute up to 30 000 of the condoms in various South African cities during the World Cup football tournament.

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